Procrastinators on the hunt for last minute gifts

“Me and my brother we just like split and I was like you go get this and I’ll go get this and we’ll meet at the line,” said Daisy Perez of Salinas, California.

Shoppers across the country and here on the Central Coast fought crowds and long lines, under the wire to get Christmas presents beneath the tree.

“We have a very big family and I kept forgetting everybody’s wants and needs so that’s why I’m here on the last day,” said Salinas’s resident Sekina Russel.

According to a recent study by the National Retail Federation the average holiday shopper has only completed about 50% of their shopping.

“I guess I had 364 days but waited til the end,” said Derrick Pearson. “I went to like 12 different stores today so I wasn’t an effective last minute shopper, just a last minute shopper.”

Pearson says making things happen on the fly is in his nature.

Other shoppers say they procrastinated on purpose.

“Sales, better sales, yes,” said Salinas resident Dee Tabera.

Retail experts say stores are offering huge markdowns to compete with online shopping and move inventory.

“There were like 70% off, 60% off,” said Perez.

“I don’t think it’s been real sales no, not that I know of,” said Russel. “I guess I’m not getting the right stuff.”

Just one more thing before that last store closes and their marathon shopping is complete.

“I’m just going to eat from this point forward,” said Pearson.

“No I am not coming out of the house for the rest of the weekend,” said Russel.

Gift cards, clothes and technology were the hot buys Thursday.

The National Retail Federation says sales are expected to top $630 billion dollars this holiday season.